Torpedo-boat



w. B.'SHEARER.

TORPEDO BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED DE C. IQ, 1917.

1,356,791. Patented Oct. 26, 1920.

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TORPEDO BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED 050.10. 1917.

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TORPEDO BOAT APPLICATION FILED DEC. 10, 19l7.

Patented 001:. 26, 1920.

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WILLIAM B. srrnA ER,' or Monron 1R,nnvr JERSEY, AssIeNoRroiiv'rnRlvArronAn ToRrRno BOAT ooRroR 'rroN, or wrmrmerorv; DELAWARE, ACORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

To all whom it may concern: 7

' Be it known that 1, WILLIAM B. SHEARER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Montclair, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new-and useful Improvements in Torpedo Boats,fully described and represented in the following specification and theaccompanyingdrawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to certain improveit is carried, the operation ofmoving the bow and firing the torpedo being under control of theoperator. a

The present invention has for one of its objects a construction by whichthe torpedo or'other movable explosive charge may be loaded into theboat without water having access to the torpedo compartment, so thatthe'torpedo [can be loaded into the boat while the boat is in the water.

It is a further object or" the; invention to provide such a constructionby which is eliminated and the torpedo may be loaded into itscompartment without the necessity of pushing it into or through suchtube.

It is a further and important object of the invention to provide aconstruction whereby the torpedo compartment may be flooded with waterwhen it is desired to fire the torpedo, so that the torpedo may beexpelled from the compartment under its own power, the compartment beingdimensioned to hold sufficient water to permit this to be done.

It is a further object of the invention to provide improved devices forcontrolling the firing of the torpedo so that the torpedo can not befired until the movable bow portion of the boat has beenmoved out of the'roRrnno-BoA'rf Specification of Letters Patent. Pat t d O t 1920 I g Io o 7 Application filed December 10, 1917. Serial No. 206,407. 7

way and the torpedo compartment flooded with water, whereby any dangerof fpre mature firing of the torpedo is eliminated.

It is a further objectiof the invention to i 7 provide aniinprovedconstruction for the protection of the operator against small arm fire,and for preventing wash from entering the operators compartment when theboat is underway in a rough sea.

It is a further object ofthe invention to improvein various'details' thebody constructlon whereby a strong, rigid structure 1s provided, and onewhich is stable and which will lie low in the water so as to provide assmall visibility as possible.

With these and other objectsnotspecifically referred to inview, theinvention consists in certain novel parts and features of constructionwhich will, toprovide a better understanding of the invention, be fullydescribedin connection with the accompany- 1ngdraw1ngs,'1n which- Figure1 1s a general top plan view,

partly broken away oi the improved torpedo.

carrier;

F g. 2 is structlon shownfin Fig. 1;

a general side view. of the con Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinalsection on an enlarged scale, showing the various controls and thetorpedo in place and the movable bow portioniin open and closedposltlon, the latter in full lines;

Fig. is a horizontal'sectionalfplan view ofthe construction shown-inFig. 3, the view being taken on line4-4 of that figure and certain partsbeing broken away;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional plan view of part of the control system,taken on line 5-5 ofFig.3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 ofFigs. 3 and 4;-

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional .view of part' of the control system onan enlarged scale,

the section being taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view;

taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is asecti'onal plan view of a portion of the bow guide track,partially broken away, the view being on the line 9-,9 of Fig.8;

' Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view of part of the bow manipulatingmechanism the secdevices for connecting the torpedo firing controllingrods, and v Fig. 1s a detailed sectional view showing the means employedfor manipulating the rear stop or bufi'er for the torpedo.

1.5 Before taking up a detailed description of these drawings, it may bestated; that while the boat may be used from a land or other permanentbase, itis so dimensioned; that it may be carried in numbers by a warvessel 2o or other mother ship andlaunched therefrom, and isalsosobalanced that it will float as close to the water level aspracticable to afford low visibility'; that is, practically awash.except for the conning tower or top of the operators compartment.

While the dimensions of the boatmay be varied as desired, and may embodystructural features ofdiii'erent characters, it will include a watertight compartment 1 in which is located the driving mechanism,

whichmay be an. ordinary i-cylinder gasolene engine marked generally 2,this compartment also provlding a place for the op erator and for thecontrols hereinafter re '35 ferred to. The boat will also includecompartment 3, closedat its rear end by a water tight bulkhead 4 bywhich it is separated fromv the control compartment 1, and closed 7 atits forward end by a bow section, 5, which 40 may be arranged; to beswung open to: admit water to the. torpedovcompartment 3 and to leave aclear path for the egress of the torpedo. This torpedo (compartment 3 isof any suitable dimensions, but will be sufliciently l a-rgetoaccommodate a torpedo 6, V which may be of any suitable orusual type,and, an amount of water suflicient for the torpedo to leave the.compartment under its wownpower. While a torpedo of conventional shapehas been shown, it will be understood that the invention contemplatesthe dischargeof any type or" torpedo or movable explosive carrier whichcan be discharged from the boat under its own power. The

boat'will also include air tanks 7 8 arranged at each side thereof, thefunction of these tanks being to balance the boat, prevent itscapsizing, and to maintain it at the desired level, a I

The'amount of water sufiicient forthe torpedo to leave the compartment.under its own power depends to some extent on, the dimensions and weightof the torpedo. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated it willappear from Fig. 6 that there all which spaces are flooded when the bowis opened. With the common torpedo tubes which fit fairly closely aroundthe torpedo only a comparativelysmall body of water can be admitted,sosmall in fact that if the torpedos engine were started therein withoutalso propelling it by compressedair or. an explosive charge behind itthe propellers would race without suflicient resistance from the waterto secure a good launching. A considerable volume of water is necessaryto furnish, so to, speak,,the necessary abutment against which the backpressure of the so propellers is exerted to launch the tor-j pedoveasilyand without racing of its engine. The water should be in; considerablevolume; around the sides of the; torpedo as wellas at its rear end andshould be preferably 150% or more of the, volume of the torpedo. V

The water should also extend; at least to and preferably above thetop ofthe torpedo so as to support it in its proper horizontal .90

position and so that there is little or no serious tendency of thetorpedo to dip its, nose as it leaves the bow ofthe boat. The air in thetorpedois compressible to. avari-I ableextent. It is usually compressedto such. an extent that the torpedowhen idle will float at the surfaceof the water or approxie mately so. The flooding of the boat with. waterwhich entirely surrounds the torpedo. will, therefore, practicallysupport the tor 10o pedo in such body of water and ease the pressure onits guides .sothat it will move freely under its propelling power. And,since the deck of the boat its practically awash the lifting pressure ofthe water on the torpedo will be practically the same when it emerges aswhen it is within the boat.

@ne ofthc important features of the-present invention consists in anovelmethod of discharging the torpedo or other movable explosivecarrier, whereby the torpedo is discharged from the boat under it ownpower and beneath, the water level, thus eliminating the use of thetorpedo tube ordinarily used for effecting torpedodis charge and the useof compressed or an explosive for effecting the discharge, and a simpleand convenient construction has been provided for effecting this and foreffecting the loading of the torpedo into its compartment without thenecessity of: pushing it into or through such tube, and'also for loadingthe torpedo into theboat while the boat is in the water.

It may here be stated that the boat may be: built of any suitablemateriahbut preferably, and as illustrated, the-hull may be made of oakplanking 9'and ribs of metal 10 to forma strong rigid structure. The

in the compartment without movable bow portion 5 may likewise be of anysuitable material, but preferably is formed of sheet iron or steel toafiord rigidity and prevent accident in case of collision, this bowpiece having bottom and sides 11 and-being of the usual bow form, with afiat closed top 12 preferably made integral with the bottom and sides ofthe bow piece.

In accordance with the invention, means are provided for loadingthe'torpedo into the compartment 3 while the boat is-in the water, andso that the torpedodoes not have to be pushed through a tube, and meansare provided whereby the torpedo may be held in position and kept fromany undue movement in the compartment and discharged therefrom under itsown power when desired. ment of these means may be varied within widelimits, a simple and convenient construction is that shown in which(referring particularly to" Fig. 6) there is provided an upper'deck 13covering the compartment 3, which deck may be of wood having an underfacing of sheet iron or steel 14. This upper deck, as shown in Figs. 1and 3, extends substantially the length of the compartment 3 from thebulkhead 4 to the rear of the movable bow 5. Thi deck is arranged to bemovable, so that it can be swung out of the way to permit a torpedo tobe lowered into the compartment 3, and, as shown, is hinged to the mainhull by suitable hinges 15, one member'of the hinge being secured to thedeck and the other to a sheathing 16, which is provided for covering theair tanks 7, 8, before referred to, and which has a portion extendinginwardly over the sides of the boat, as shown in Fig. 6. The deck, whenclosed, is prevented from swinging down into the compartment and issupported by stop shoulders 17 formed in brackets 18 suitably secured,as by bolts 19, to the hull of the boat.

Means are provided by the present invention for holding the torpedo inposition substantial movement. thereof and for guiding it andassistingits movement when it is discharged therefrom under its ownpower, as hereinafter explained. These guiding and positioning meanscomprise, in the particular construction illustrated, a inetal frame 20having side bars 21, 22 and'cross bars 23. This metal frame 20 ishinged'at 241 to brackets 25 suitably secured, as by bolts 26,

to the hull of the boat, this frame being hinged so that it may belifted to permit the insertion ofthe torpedo into the compartment 3. Theframe is prevented from falling into the compartment and is supported bya stop flange 27 formed on the lower part of the bracket 18, beforereferred to,

the frame resting on this flange when in lowered position. The'frame 20is, as will While the specific embodi be observed, spaced from the deck13 so as.

are secured spaced rails 29 having angular extensions or flanges 30,the'flanges being disposed toward each other, as shown in Fig. 6, thebar 28 and the rails 29 being secured to the cros pieces 23 of the frameby suitable bolts 31. Cooperating with these flanged guide rails is aguide carried by the torpedo which, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, 1s aT.-shapedprojection 32, this T-projection fitting loosely in the trackformed by the rails 29, 30, the rails and the T-proyection acting toguide the torpedo as the same moves fromthe compartment 3.

To facilitate the movement of the torpedo from the compartment and tokeep it free of the bottom, antifriction devices of any suitablecharacter are preferably employed, these antifriction devices alsoacting as a support for the torpedo while in the compartment. Thespecific construction of these devices may be somewhat varied, but inthe particular construction illustrated, referring to Figs. 6 and 12,there are provided a series of two-part supports 33, 34 projectingangularly from the bottom of the boat on-each side thereof toward eachother, these supports having mounted therebetween freely rotatableantifriction rolls 35, on which the torpedo rests, a sufficient numberof these supports being provided to firmly support the torpedo. r

In constructions embodying the invention in its preferred form, theguide track, in

which works the T-projection before referred to, will be extended beyondthe compartment into the movable bow-part of the boat, so as to guidethe torpedo after it has emerged from the compartment. While variousconstructions ma be employed for effecting this, as shown Zsee Figs. 4:,9 and 10) there is provided'a frame comprising cross pieces 36 bolted toangle irons 37 .se curely fastened to the hull portion of the boat.These frames 36are bent at right angles to form' forwardly extendingportions 38 which are formed with flanges 39 (see Fig. 8) disposedtoward each other to form a track. Side frames 40 are provided forbracing the parts 38, and the frames are furthermore braced by a topplate or bar 41 secured to the extension 38 of the frame 36. Theseframes extend, asshown in Fig. 4;, forwardly into the bow of the boatand remain in fixed position, the bow of theboat and thehinged deck 13and frame 20 to the rails 29, before referred to, on their inner ends,the other end 45 of this lever taking into'a notch 46 formed in a rod 47mounted so as to be movable on the frame 20 before referred to, thefunction of which rod is more fully described hereinafter. This stop 42is normally in the path of the T-sh-aped projection 32, of the torpedo,and acts to hold the torpedo against substantial forward movement in thecompartment.

Means are provided for preventing rearward movement of the torpedo to.any substantial extent in the compartment, which means may he of variouscharacters. In the particular construction illustrated, there isprovided (see Figs. 3, 7 and 15) a buffer which is provided with abuffer-head 48 against which the tail of the torpedo may seat. Theconstruction of this buffer, wheresuch means is employed to preventrearward movement of the torpedo, may be varied, but

preferably will be such that it may be swung out of the way when thetorpedo is being positioned in the compartment. in theparticularconstruction illustrated, there is provided a flange 49secured to the bulk head 4, before referred to, which flange has securedthereto a head 50 having an ex tension 51. The extension 51 is pinned bya pin 52 to'a block 53, so that the block 53 may be swung around the pin52 as a pivot. The block 53 lies within ahollow cylindrical extension54'extending from the buffer-head 48 and is pinned thereto by a pin 55which works in slots 56 in the sleeve. By pulling the buffer to the leftin Fig. 7, until the end of the sleeve passes the pin 52, the buffer mayreadily swing to the position shown in Fig. 15 and be out of the way ofthe torpedo when it is placed in the compartment. In loading the torpedointo the compartment, the deck and frame are raised and the torpedoplaced inthecompartment. The frame 20 is then lowered and the torpedothen given a slight forward movement to cause the projection 32. toengage the tracks 39, this movement bringing the projec ion on thetorpedo against the stop 42. The buffer is then swung into place, andthe buifer and stopv are so dimensioned and positioned that anysubstantial forward or backward movement of the torpedo is prevented.

Means are provided, according to the presrificembodiments for effectingthese objects may be varied, a simple and efiicient one is that shown inwhich (referring particularly to Fig. 3) there is provided a rod 57slidably supported in brackets 58 positioned on the hinged deck 13before referred to. This rod is operated by a screw 59 engaging a nut59- and an operating wheel 60 from the cockpit 1, before referred to,and this rod will hereinafter be termed the bow operatingrod. This rod,by the turning of the wheel 60, is moved to open or close the bow oftheboat through any suitable connections, as by means of a short rod 61secured to the rod57, so as to move therewith, as by being pinned to abracket 62 fast on the rod, Theother end of this rod is pivotallysecured to a bracket63 mounted on the upper portion 12 of the bow 11before referred to. By the movement of the rod to the right, as shown inFig. 1, the bow of the boat is swung to the position shown in dottedlines in Fig. 3, the bow swinging on connections hereinafter morespecifically referred to.

Below the deck 13, and slidably supported in brackets 64 depending fromthe deck, is

the rod 47 before referred to. This rod, at one end, is connected to andis operated by a hand lever 65, this lever being controlled by a toothedsector 66. The rod 47 has two functions/ The initial movement of the rodto the right causes the lever arms '45 to be swung to the right in F ig.11, this swinging movement of the lever operating to lift the stop 42out of the path of the projection 32 on the torpedo, The furthermovement of the rod causes a trip pin 67 carried thereby to contact withand operate a firing pin 68 on the torpedo, this action throwing intoopmay be'of various characters, in the particular constructionillustratedthe firing rod is provided with a toothed ratchet 69 withwhich cooperates a pawl 70 carried on the bow rod, the parts being soarranged that the firing rod can not be operated until the bow rod hasbeen moved sufficiently for the pawl to clear the ratchet. In this waythere will be no danger of firing the torpedo until its path from thecompartment is free and unobstructed, which is a :very important featureof the device.

Both the bow rod and the firing rod enter the compartment or cockpit 1,the bow rod through the top of the compartment above the deck, and thefiring rod through the water-tight bulkhead 4 below the deck. In thebest constructions, to prevent leakage into the water-tight compartment,stufling boxes 71, 72 are provided for the bow rod and firing rod,respectively, these stufiing boxes being of any suitable character.

As the bow rod is carried by the hinged deck 13, and the firing rod bythe swinging frame 20, and as these rods extend beyond the deck andframe, respectively, into the cockpit or compartment 1, means must beprovided whereby the decks can be swung on their hinges, carrying theserods with them. While the specific means employed may be somewhatvaried, in the particular construction shown in Figs. 13 and 14, theserods are two-part rods, and one end of one part of the rod is providedwith a tongue 7 3 which fits between a pair of ears 74, a pin 7 5 beingpassed through the tongue and ears for holding them together, this pin 75 being prevented from displacement by the usual cotter pin 7 6, thisconstruction being. adopted for both the rods.

With the construction shown and described for opening thebow, when thedeck and frame are to be opened to permit the loading of'the torpedointo the torpedo comartment, it is necessary to uncouple from the rod 57the short rod 61 which normally holds the bow inclosed position, topermit the opening movement. When 7 this construction is employed, wherea torpedo is being loaded into the compartment when the boat is in thewater, it is preferable to provide some means for positively holding thebow in position to prevent ingress of water into the compartment. Whilethis may be provided in various ways, there is prov ded (Figs. 1 and 3)a supplemental clamping rod 77 pivotally secured to the bracket 63secured on the bow portion, as before referred to, and arranged to besecured, as

7 shown in dotted lines, to an eye 79 secured on the main deck of theboat at one side of the swinging deck 13, it being understood that afterthe torpedo is in place and the deck is closed and the rod 61 is agamcoupled, this supplemental holding rod 77 1s uncoupled from the eye 79and swung to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3.

The bow 5 is secured to the main hull, as

torpedo from the compartment 3, and in the best constructionsconnections between the Y movable bow and the remainder of'the hull aresuch as to stop ingress of water to the compartment'when the bow isclosed. While the specific construction for effecting this may besomewhat varied, as illustrated (see Figs. 3, 8 and 10) the bow ishinged to the stationary top deck of the boat by hinges 80 on which itis swung up'by the operating rod 61, before referred to. The means foreffecting a water-tight joint between the bowof the boat and-"the hullmay be vofany suitable character. As illustrated, the forward end of thehull proper is cut out at its outer side, as indicated at 81 (see Fig.9). The inner side of the end of the hull proper is recessed, asindicated at 82, to receive a packing strip 83 held in the recess 82 bychannel iron 82' and extending around the hull. Against this packingstrip takes one leg of an angle iron 84securely fastened on the innerend of the bow portion. With this construction, when the bow portion isswung into place, it swings against this packing and affords a jointsufficiently tight to prevent substantial ingress of water to thecompartment.,-i

Inconstructions embodying the invention in its best form, means will beprovided for clearing the flooded torpedocompartment after the torpedohas been ejected, both when the boat ismoving and when the boat 100 isstanding still. While the specific con-. struction for effecting thismaybe somewhat varied, it. may include'a' bilge clearer v markedgenerally95, which is of any usual 'or suitabletype, one of theseclearers being is controlled by a cock 97 so that connection is madebetween the pump' of the motor and the compartment, and the motor actsto draw the water from the compartment to and through the water-jacketof the engine. 1 The cockpit or operating compartment 1 is, as beforestated, constructed so as to afford protection against small arm fire,and

seats to be substantially water tight to prevent water from obtainingentrance therein. In the particular construction illustrated, thecompartment above the water line 1s formed ofsheet steel, the forwardand rearward sides of which are slanted, as shown at 85.

'and86 in Fig. 3, through; which the operator can see to manipulate theboat. Thefront wall 85 is or may be hinged, as indicated at 88, sothatit may be swung back .to get at the engine, if for any reason thisis necessary, and the top 89 may be hinged as at 90.

The boat may be steered by the usual wheel 91 through any suitable ropeand pulley construction 92.

It will be seen from the foregoing that a simple butefliective torpedocarrier has been devised, which can be operated by one man, the torpedocan be discharged under its own power, and the torpedo can not be fireduntil its path is clear, which are two important features of theinvention. Furthermore, a craft of low visibility and great stability isprovided. It will be understood that the invention, as to its importantfeatures, is not to be limited to :the exact construction shown :anddescribed, as various construe tions could be devised for eflectingthese ob jects without departing from the invention, and it isunderstood that such changes in oonstnuction are within the invent-ionde scribed and the claims appended.

What is claimed is:

1. A torpedo boat divided by a transverse partition into a closed spacefor carrying its operating mechanism and a torpedo-receivingspace with:a deck which can be openened to admit a torpedo without opening thespace carrying the operating mechanism.

'2. A torpedoboat having a rear closed space for carrying its operatingmechanism, the remaining forward space being ust sudfi'cient in .iengthto accommodate a torpedo.

3. A torpedo boat having a rear closed space for carrying its operatingmechanism, the remaining forward space being just sufficient in ileng thto accommodate a torpedo, and having a deck which can be opened to givedirect access to said forward space and permit the introduction of :atorpedo.

4. A torpedo boat divided by a .transverse 'partitionint'o a closedspace for carrying its operating mechanism and a torpedo-receiving spacewith a deck which can be opened to admit a torpedo without opening thespace carrying the operating mechanism, said torpedo-receiving spaceadapted to be flooded with sufficient water to support the torpedo sothat it may be propel l'ed through sudh water under its own power.

5. A torpedo boat divided by :a transverse partition into a closed spacefor carrying its operating #mech-anism and :a torpedo-receiving spacewith a deck which can be opened to admit a torpedo without opening thespace carrying't'he operating mechanism, said torpedoreceiving spaceadapted to be flooded with sufficient water to support the torpedo sothat it maybe "propelled through such water under its own power, andmeans for clearing the flooded torpedo-receiving space of Water afterthe torpedo "has in launched.

'6. A torpedo boat having a closed space for carrying :the mechanism and:an operator and a compartment for a torpedo which is out ofi from saidspace and is adapted to float substantially awash while the closed spaceextends above said compartment to enable the operator to direct theboat.

7. A boat having suflicient closed space for carrying its operatingmechanism and for securing the desired flotation level, and having atorpedo-receiving space inclosed directly by the sides, bottom and deckof the vessel and cut on. from said closed space.

8. A boat having sufficient closed space for carrying its operatingmechanism and for securing the desired flotation level, and having atorpedo-receiving space inclosed directly by the sides, bottom and deckof the vessel and cut off from said closed space', the torpedo receivingspace being clo'sed by a wall which can be opened to flood the space andpermit the torpedo to be propelled out oil the boat by its own power.'

'9. A boat having s'ufiicient closed space :for carrying its operatingmechanism and for securing the desired flotation level, and having atorpedo-receiving space inclosed directly by the sides, bottom and deckof the vessel and cut ofl from-said closed space, the deck over thisspace being movable to permit the torpedo to be lowered whilemaintaining a horizontal position into this space.

10. A boat having suificient closed space for carrying its operatingmechanism and for securing the desired flotation level, and having atorpedo-receiving space inclosed directly by the sides, bottom and deckof the vessel, the deck over this space being movable to permit thetorpedo *to be lowered while maintaining a horizontal position into thisspace, and means for holding down and guiding the torpedo in this space,said means being also movable to permit the lowering of the torpedo.

11. A "boat, substantially the entire fore part of which is atorpedo-receiving space large enough to carry so much water that thetorpedo may be propelled through such water under its own power.

12. A'boat having a rear closed space and a forward space incloseddirectly by the sides, bottom and deck adapted 'to receive a torpedo andto be flooded with water in which the torpedo can propel itself by itsown power.

13. A boat having a rear closed space and a forward space incloseddirectly by the sides, "bottom and deck adapted to receive a torpedo andto be flooded with water in which the torpedo can propel "itself by itsown power and a bow adapted "to be m ved from the line of said forwardspace.

14. A boat having a rear closed space and a a forward space incloseddirectly by the sides, bottom and deck adapted to receive a torpedo anda bow adapted to be moved from the line of said forward space to floodthe same and means for starting the propel ling mechanism of the torpedoso that it will launch itself by its own power from said.

divided torpedo-receiving and launching space.

16. A boat'having a rear closed space and a forward space incloseddirectly by-the sides, bottom and deck adapted to receive a torpedo andto he flooded with water in which the torpedo can propel itself'by itsown power anda bow hinged to theforward end of the deck and adapted tobe swungup out of line with said torpedo.

17. A boat having a rear closed space and a forward space incloseddirectly by the sides, bottom and deck adapted to receive atorpedo, saiddeck being movable to permit introduction of the torpedo into saidforward space without passing through said rear space.

18. A boat having a space for carrying and launching a torpedo incloseddirectly by the sides, bottom and top of the boat.

19. A boat having a space for carrying and launching a torpedo incloseddirectly by the sides, bottom and top of the boat said top being movableto permit introduction of the torpedo.

20. A boat having a torpedo-carrying space inclosed directly by thesides, bottom and top of the boat said top being movable to permitintroduction of the torpedo and the bow of the boat being also movableto permit launching of the torpedo.

21.A boat having a torpedo-carrying 1 space inclosed directly bythesides, bottom and top of the boat and closed at its forward end directlyby the bow of the boat, the bow being movable to permit launching of thetorpedo.

22. In a torpedo or similar boat, the com: bination of a bow piecenormally closing the compartment, and movable to clear the same, ahinged deck covering the compartment and independent of the bow piece, ahinged frame below the deck piece, and guides can ried by the frame forguiding the torpedo as it is descharged from the compartment.

28. In a torpedo or similar boat, the combination of a bow piecenormally closing the compartment and movable to clear the same, a hingeddeck covering the compartment and independent of the bow piece, a hingedframe below the deck piece, and a track supported from the frame andcooperating with a projection on the torpedo for guiding the torpedo asit is discharged from the compartment.

24. In a torpedo or similar boat, the combination of a bow piecenormally closing the compartment and movable to clear the same,

a hinged deck covering the compartment and independent of the bow piece,a hinged frame below the deck piece, a track supported from the frameand cooperating with v a projection on the torpedo for guiding thetorpedo asit is discharged from the compartment, and antifrictionsupports on which the torpedo moves as itis discharged.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM B. SHEABER.

